Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-08
K,ndne.. AMPLY Rewarded.
THE TEST TO WHICH A CALIFORNIA MILLIONAIRE p
HIS RELATIVES IN GEORGIA.

THE TEST TO WHICH A CALIFORNIA MILLIONAIRE PUT
HIS RELATIVES IN GEORGIA.
From the Memphis Avalanche
A pretty little romance has just eliminated in
Raburn Co., Ga. At the base Of Tiger Mountain,
half mile OF the main road leading to Clayton
there lives a small farmer named George w. Dill
lard. Mr.. billiard Is about 60 years Of age, living
with his wife and two sons, the latter aged, re-
spectlvey, 80 and %.
Early last summer Mr. billiard went to his neigh
bornOOd post Office where he found awaiting him q
letter covered over with postmarks, which denoted
that 1t had Travelled a long distance to reach its
familiar hand, but one which he had not seen in a
generation. He tore the seal and read the missve,
and sure enough. found 1t TO be from his. wife's
brother, whom he had seen last in 1S49.
At that time Jas. McCurry was young man. as
was also Geo, W. billiard. The news had reached
Georgia OF the wonderful gold discoveries In Cali
fornia- Young GeorgianS who had gone there had
written back glowing accounts OF the fortunes
which were made Tue descriptions had the effect
those who weGs fu Of the
were McCurry and billiard. They had perfected all
arrangements to go, and were bidding the family
McCurry'5 young sister touched his heart, espe-
cially as she was weeping for him and not for her
his hand he declared that he would stay il the
girl would marry him. To this she cheerfully
agreed. so billiard remained Georgia farmer,
while McCurry jumped into the stage coach and
Since that time he had never been heard OF. It
was with mingled feelings, therefore, that billiard
started TO read the letter from his old cOmrade.
The letter was solid one. McCurry stated that
he Lad worked against adverse fortune, DELAYING
writing TO the folks until he could strike 1t rich,
but every year found him striking 1t poorer, and
now Old, feeble, and poor, his great wish was to
look once more upon his native hills; that he
could not do 50 unless he was sent money enough
upon which TO return. Mr.. billiard read the letter
10 his wife and sons. ave must send him the
money" said the old man, so a cow and a mule
were sold, and the money went on its mission
across the continent
Several months brought another letter, In which
the old man expressed his gratefulneSS for the
Kindness done him, but he was too sick to travel
then. After that no more was heard from him
until last saturday, when large Official envelope
was received at the little post-Oice. 1t bore the
Inscription Of strange hand. The ne1ghbOrS one
by one dropped by and told billiard about its arrt-
Val. III was too late for him TO get II then but he
was on hand early Monday morning. As he read
II his hands trembled. II recited that Mr.. James
McCurry was dead; that he wished to test the
fidelity OF his sisters family; that their prompt
answer TO his appeal had moved him, and that by
his will his property in California, valued at
81 800 600. was wled In equal parts to his sister,
her husband, and their two sons The two young
men are going to California to superintend the
property, Whit they intend TO convert into cash,
and return TO Georgia.